Pati Jinich is host of the popular James Beard Award winning and Emmy nominated PBS series Pati's Mexican Table, author of two cookbooks, and resident chef at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC. This is her official website where she shares recipes from her show and new recipes in her blog, plus upcoming events, recent news, and more.

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Scallop Aguachile at the James Beard House

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Scallop Aguachile at the James Beard House

Compared to when I first moved to the US, 20 years ago, you can now find all the ingredients you need to prepare Mexican food. People are not only eating Mexican food out, but are bringing it into their home kitchens. There’s the #tacotuesday and the #taconight. Wherever you travel to in the US, there’s Mexican food to be found in airports, restaurants, hotels, fast food chains, and the offerings continue to increase and get better. It seems like the more people get to know Mexican cuisine, the more they want to taste it, to cook it, to explore its depth.

It is such a thrill to be part of this movement. I particularly enjoy traveling through the US to cook whenever I get an invitation. And I was beyond ecstatic when I got the request from the James Beard House in New York City to whip up their Cinco de Mayo dinner. What an honor! But of course, the pressure was on. What theme, which menu, what drinks? So much to share!

To be sure, Cinco de Mayo is not a big celebration in Mexico. It is a somber occasion honored in the state of Puebla, where the Cinco de Mayo Battle took place in 1862. It was a battle between a small Mexican militia against a big French army, and while the Mexicans won, with the odds stacked against them, the French won right back. Yet, move the clock forward a few years and Mexico regained its Independence.

Now, for whatever reason, which many have unsuccessfully tried to explain, Cinco has become the biggest Mexican-themed party abroad. I was bewildered at first when I started getting invites to Cinco de Mayo parties from our American friends. But then, of course, happily joined the excitement of the Cinco train. Listen, if there is an open door to celebrate anything and everything that we love and are proud of about Mexico, and share our food, cuisine and culture: count me in!

Photo courtesy Clay Williams (@ultraclay)

As a Mexican immigrant, to be invited to the James Beard House, such a prestigious place and institution, made me feel proud and like my food is worth it. But, it also made me feel like Mexican food has really started to earn its rightful place in the eyes of the culinary world of the US.

You can see the menu above. Because I really couldn’t choose a Mexican region to focus on, I opted for what I called a Mexican culinary compass: different foods from different places from Mexico, a few childhood favorites, and a couple new dishes from my kitchen. Carnitas from Michoacán, caldo de camarón from Acapulco, gorditas from Oaxaca…

The first course of the formal sit-down dinner menu, after the cocktail hour, was a scallop aguachile inspired by the coastal region of the Sea of Cortez.

The team from the James Beard House is a joy to work with. We prepped the day before, as it was a long menu! Then my production team and I got so excited with the occasion that we decided to make it part of an episode of the next season of Pati’s Mexican Table, which will premiere in September 2018.

Photo courtesy Clay Williams (@ultraclay)

But meanwhile, I leave you with the scallop aguachile recipe. It is SO GOOD. And it could not be simpler. It helps break so many myths about Mexican food. Not all Mexican food is fried, or laborious, or covered in cheese, or severely spiced up, or takes forever to prepare. In fact, most Mexican food is healthy, soulful, delicious, nutritious. It gives beautiful ingredients, like the plump, silky and sweet fresh sea scallops a chance to shine by just dressing them beautifully, lightly and kindly.

Photo courtesy Clay Williams (@ultraclay)

Mexican cuisine is indeed riding such a high wave today. And I can see the high tide ahead, with the wave getting even bigger and higher. So excited and honored to have the possibility to continue to ride it and bring the fruits of this journey to your shore.

Scallop Aguachile

Aguachile de Callo de Hacha

4servings

Pati Jinich

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Aguachile, Ceviche, jalapeno, lime, Scallops

Author:Pati Jinich

Prep Time: 15minutes

Resting Time: 15minutes

The first course from Pati's Cinco de Mayo dinner at the James Beard House in New York was a scallop aguachile inspired by the Mexican coastal region of the Sea of Cortez.

Ingredients

1poundlarge fresh scallops

1/4cuplime juice, freshly squeezed

2tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil

1/4cupred onion, slivered

1serrano or jalapeño chile, thinly sliced

1/2teaspoonkosher or sea salt, or more to taste

To Prepare

In a bowl, combine the lime juice, olive oil, onion, serrano and salt. Whisk and let sit for at least 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate up to 12 hours.

When ready to serve, remove lime juice mix from the refrigerator. Slice the fresh scallops thinly and horizontally, up to 1/8” width. Spread on a platter. Whisk the lime juice sauce and pour in its entirety over the scallops, arranging so that the onion and chile are spread evenly throughout. Serve immediately.

Congratulations Patti on your award. I have been a professional chef for 20 years and Mexican cuisine is one of my fave to prepare. I have travelled to Mexico and Central America extensively and love exploring the cultures and their food. You help share this with all your viewers. I feel like I am your soul sister in the kitchen…..
Your chef jacket in the photo is amazing!!!!!!! Do you sell those through your website????

You are such an amazing woman! I love watching you and your family. Congratulations on the JBA! It doesn’t surprise me, you’re an amazing chef! I hope to be able to watch you for many, many more years to come!

We so enjoy your show, Pati. Congratulations on receiving the JBA! We have family in Monterey. Have you had the Cabritto from there? That could be a wonderful show. Not many Americans have experienced this culinary treat. I keep asking for it in the restaurants that I go to, but not many know of it.

Hola Pati,
Muchas felicidades, you are hard working and persistent and it shows. I’m glad it paid off by being recognized amongst the culinary elite.
Keep being so warm and making recipes look easily achievable.
Mazal Tov

Love the recipe amazing, love your show and cookbook I have 3 grown boys and and it amazing to see your boys grow up on tv, even JuJu. You have a wonderful family and husband and all the luck with your show, maybe so day you’ll open a small restaurant, I know a lot of fans that or waiting and my middle son loves your book also

Congratulations on your, much deserved, JBA! I love how effortless and accessible you make your homestyle recipes for your boys. Pure gold. And your trips to various parts of Mexico highlight the different flavors, styles and ingredients creating a culinary palette so we, the viewers, can travel with you with our palates. Thank you. I can’t wait to try this recipe with some of our giant Alaskan scallops.

Congratulations Pati on winning the James Beard Award! My family loves your show, My daughter and I have made several of your recipes and they are always a hit! Can’t wait to try this scallop recipe, they are my favorite! Excited to see your upcoming season, so proud to see a woman of Mexican descent with her own show and cook books 😊

Congratulations on your JBA Pati! I love your show and I love how you involve your children to assist you. You, being Hispanic, a woman, and a successful chef in the culinary world that is mostly dominated by men, you are an inspiration to me and I’m sure to many others. I love the recipe and cannot wait to try it out!! MMMMM!! God Bless you and your family.

Dear Pati,
Congratulations on your award!!! You are not only special you are the best! I enjoy you, and your family, I have learned sooooo much from you even though I am Mexican, You are one fantastic LADY!!!!. hope you are with us for a long time. Enjoy everything you do. Felicidades!!!!

Dear Pati,
I can not wait to try this! I wish I were in my kitchen right now cooking this and watching your show. Felicidades on your James Beard Award!! I’m not surprised at all that you won. Estoy orgulloso de mostrar sus libros en mi cocina!!

I want to thank you for all the wonderful recipes and letting us into your home and life. My husband and I really enjoy your show and your family.
Am I correct in the assumption that the scallops are served raw? (I’ve never had them raw, it would interesting to see what the taste and texture are like)

Just wanted to congratulate you on your James Beard award. I bet when you first arrived in the US you never heard of JB, let alone thought you would ever win something so wonderful! Keep up the good work, wonderful dishes and stories and most of all how Mexican food is the soul of your beloved home and country!

Hi Pati! I am a huge fan of yours! I have never cooked with scallops but enjoy eating them at restaurants. The scallops do not need to be ‘cooked’ in the lime juice mixture first, like ceviche? Thank you.

Hola Pati! I’m an avid fan of your show. I’ve noticed most shows on Mexican cooking focus on either Oaxaca and the Yucatan. I’m interested in discovering cuisines from other regions. How about featuring foods of Veracruz, or the Pacific Coast states, or Northern Mexico? There’s so many other regions that deserve exposure! I’m especially curious about Veracruz since that’s one region I haven’t been to. I hope you’ll consider this suggestion for future shows. ¡Mil gracias!